Paswan seeks sub-quota for Muslims

NEW DELHI: Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP) president Ram Vilas Paswan on Sunday demanded a sub-quota for Muslims in the reservation policy.

He said the most backward classes among the community should be moved to the Dalit category so that they could get better benefits from the reservation system.

At a press conference, he said the UPA Government was committed to reservation in the private sector and reiterated that his party would fight for this cause till the end. The most backward classes in the Muslim community - Ajlaf and Arzals - should be brought under the Dalit category for their uplift.

Asked whether he would support a second stint for President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, he said he would go by the decision of the UPA coalition on the issue.

Mr. Paswan said his party would hold a two-day "Dalits and Minorities International Conference" here from December 27 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would inaugurate it.